不像 … 那么 … (not as … as) · 不像 … 那么 … (no tan ... como)
Height is one property
- Two classmates measure 170 cm and 180 cm. The shorter one says 我不像他那么高。 — I am not as tall as him.
- The height comparison fits these measurements. It makes no claim about their speed, kindness or grades.
Height is one property
- Two classmates measure 170 cm and 180 cm. The shorter one says I / me我not不to resemble像he / him他like that那么high高。 — I am not as tall as him.
- The height comparison fits these measurements. It makes no claim about their speed, kindness or grades.
You describe yourself as shorter than a classmate. What does 我不像他那么高。 communicate?
The classmate's height provides the degree you do not reach. The comparison is about height, not every quality. 不像他 can also mean being unlike him more generally when no degree phrase follows.
Keep the reference and property together
- Use A + 不像 + B + 那么 / 这么 + adjective. In 我不像他那么高, 他 supplies the reference and 高 supplies the property.
- 这杯茶不像那杯那么热。 — This tea is not as hot as that tea. Now the property is heat, not height.
I我not as不像him他so那么tall高。
Keep the reference and property together
- Use A + not like / not as (context)不像 + B + like that那么 / so much这么 + adjective. In I / me我not不to resemble像he / him他like that那么high高, he / him他 supplies the reference and high高 supplies the property.
- 这杯tea茶not不to resemble像那杯like that那么to warm up热。 — This tea is not as hot as that tea. Now the property is heat, not height.
I我not as不像him他so那么tall高。
Use the lesson target 不像 in this demonstrated example: I'm not as tall as him: 我 ____ 他那么高。
N1 + 不像 + N2 + 那么 + Adj = not as … as: 我不像他那么高.
The sentence does not supply the gap
- In the opening measurements, 180 minus 170 is 10 cm. That number comes from the measurements, not from 不像…那么高 alone.
- Without measured values, the sentence gives the comparison but no exact centimetre difference.
The sentence does not supply the gap
- In the opening measurements, 180 minus 170 is 10 cm. That number comes from the measurements, not from not like / not as (context)不像…like that那么high高 alone.
- Without measured values, the sentence gives the comparison but no exact centimetre difference.
What do 这么 / 那么 mark here?
不像他那么高 — 那么 points at his level of tallness.
In the given measurements, one classmate is 170 cm and the other 180 cm. What is the height difference in cm?
The explicit measurements give 180 minus 170 = 10 cm; the grammar alone supplies no exact gap.
A different adjective reverses the physical reading
- In a stated two-person height comparison, 我不像他那么矮。 means I am not as short as him. The speaker is taller in that context.
- The pattern compares the adjective’s degree. Do not keep a “speaker shorter” answer after 高 changes to 矮.
A different adjective reverses the physical reading
- In a stated two-person height comparison, I / me我not不to resemble像he / him他like that那么short in height矮。 means I am not as short as him. The speaker is taller in that context.
- The pattern compares the adjective’s degree. Do not keep a “speaker shorter” answer after high高 changes to short in height矮.
In 我不像他那么高, the stated property being compared is tallness.
高 names tallness. A different adjective such as 矮 changes the property and interpretation.
The height sentence proves the classmates differ in every quality.
Only height is named; grades and other traits remain separate.
In this two-person height comparison, 我不像他那么矮 means the speaker is…
The speaker does not reach the other person’s degree of shortness: the speaker is taller in this context.
Similarity without a degree is broader
- 我不像他。 says I am unlike him, with the relevant similarity left to context. It does not name height.
- 我不像他那么高。 specifically compares height. Do not invent an adjective when the shorter sentence never supplies one.
Similarity without a degree is broader
- I / me我not不to resemble像he / him他。 says I am unlike him, with the relevant similarity left to context. It does not name height.
- I / me我not不to resemble像he / him他like that那么high高。 specifically compares height. Do not invent an adjective when the shorter sentence never supplies one.
我不像他 explicitly names height as the property being compared.
No height adjective occurs; the relevant similarity must come from context.
Follow the property before drawing a conclusion
- Locate A, the reference B, and the adjective. Check whether the sentence compares tallness, shortness, heat or something else.
- Keep other qualities and exact numerical gaps separate unless the situation explicitly gives them.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar.